Inner-city palimpsest: Building the city above the city

This dissertation emerged from a fascination with the rich urban and architectural fabric of dense inner-cities, the layered palimpsest, and strong sense of character as a result of the piecemeal evolution of the city over time. Retaining this character is at odds with the phenomenon of a market-driven, developer-led method of place ‘un-making’ within the city which aims to maximise utility and scale, removes large portions of the existing urban fabric in the process, but adds much needed density to the city. The dissertation attempts to understand the paradox between the positive addition of density, and the nega- tive destruction of good urban fabric and character. While vacant erven within the city are scarce, the city’s density is far less than is planned due to many existing buildings having a lower bulk than is allowed. Simply put, there is a vast amount of airspace above the existing city which is being underutilised and underdeveloped. This dissertation explores a method of placemaking less dependent on the ground plane, and able to occupy the underutilised airspace above existing blocks and erven; densifying the city, and expanding its capacity, while maintaining the unique sense of character and rich urban fabric which is a product of generations of small steps in development. The dissertation attempts to cover, as a narrative, the process of unpacking ideas as pragmatic as zoning and as poetic as what it means to contribute to the rich architectural palimpsest, and everything in between.

Reference:

Henstra, S. 2014. Inner-city palimpsest: Building the city above the city. University of Cape Town.